What is Rubella? How to Recognize the Symptoms

You may have heard of rubella because it's part of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine for children in childhood. But getting the rubella virus can be dangerous if it's passed on to your unborn baby.

So, it's essential for women of childbearing age to get vaccinated to ensure they're immune to rubella.

We had our experts explain the symptoms of rubella, how important it is to be vaccinated, and what can happen if you get rubella while pregnant.

What is rubella?

Thanks to vaccines, rubella was eliminated in the United States in 2004, but people still become infected with it occasionally.

Also called "German measles," an illness caused by the Rubella virus that most people can recover from, explains Amanda Joy, PA-C, a physician assistant and associate medical director at MedStar Health Urgent Care. But she adds that while most children recover without needing medical care, it can be devastating for unborn babies.

Rubella spreads when someone breathes in virus particles exhaled from an infected person. Joy explains, "Those at highest risk are persons with close and prolonged close contact with infected individuals."

According to Joy, the virus can hang around in the body for 14 to 18 days and up to 23 days. You can be contagious for a week before getting a rash and about a week after the rash goes away. This, of course, makes it challenging to not spread to others. She says 25% to 50% of adults with rubella don't have any symptoms.

What are the symptoms of rubella?

"It can be difficult to tell if someone has rubella because symptoms can be mild," says Dr. Ruth Kanthula, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with MedStar Health. It's sometimes hard to diagnose rubella from other viral infections; there may be no symptoms in some cases.

Here are some common symptoms you might see with rubella.

Rash

Children with rubella first get a rash that can spread through the whole body. It can itch but isn't usually painful, says Joy. The rash can be flat or slightly raised with pink spotty lesions. "It first appears on the face before becoming widespread from top to bottom to the trunk and extremities," explains Joy. There's usually no rash on the palms or soles of the feet.

Rashes can last anywhere from 1 to 8 days but usually last about three days. "People with rubella are most contagious when rash is present," says Dr. Kanthula.

Fever

Someone infected with rubella might get a mild fever, usually 102 F or lower. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a low-grade fever can occur 1 to 5 days before the rash shows up.

Swollen lymph nodes

Your child might have swollen and tender lymph nodes behind their ears or in the back of their neck.

"Occasionally, thyroid gland inflammation develops, and a child may have swelling in the front of the neck, hoarse voice or trouble swallowing," says Joy.

Other symptoms

According to Joy, another symptom of rubella you might notice is a mild case of pink eye that doesn't have drainage. Small red spots can sometimes appear in your child's mouth.

Teenagers might also experience headaches, loss of appetite, runny noses, congestion, or painful joint swelling.

How does rubella affect pregnancy?

Pregnant women infected with rubella can pass the virus on to their unborn baby, known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). A rubella infection can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

Rubella infection can also cause birth defects such as problems with your baby's eyes, heart, brain, hearing ability and developmental concerns, says Dr. Kanthula.

If your healthcare provider thinks you might have rubella or have been exposed to it, you should be screened by a blood test before, during, and after pregnancy to determine if you're immune to rubella.

Because of the risk of passing rubella to your baby, getting the rubella vaccine is important.

What is the rubella vaccine?

The rubella vaccine has been around since 1969, and it's been successfully effective in preventing rubella illnesses. From 1969 to 1999, the number of people who had rubella decreased by 99%.

Joy explains that vaccination aims to protect against rubella and prevent infection in unborn babies. She says it's recommended that anyone 12 months and older get at least one dose of the rubella vaccine.

The vaccine is only available as part of the combined MMR vaccine and the MMR combined with the varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine. Since two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended, Joy says the first is given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at ages 4 to 6.

How do you treat rubella?

According to Mayo Clinic, there isn't a medication to treat rubella or shorten the time you spend sick. Some things you can do at home to make yourself or your child more comfortable might include:

• Get enough rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and discomfort. Avoid giving aspirin to children and teenagers because of the chance of Reye's syndrome, a condition that can be life-threatening in kids.
• Isolate yourself from others as much as possible to avoid passing on the virus to someone else.

Most children recover from rubella, but to prevent complications or passing on the illness to others, talk with your healthcare provider about vaccinating your child against rubella.

Experts

• Ruth Kanthula, MD, pediatric infectious disease specialist with MedStar Health
• Amanda Joy, PA-C, a physician assistant and associate medical director at MedStar Health Urgent Care